Morrissey (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

We mentioned most of this, but now there are sadly even more dates cancelled:

"Due to doctor's orders, the upcoming engagements with MORRISSEY in Las Vegas on Sat Feb 9 and in Phoenix on Sun Feb 10 will need to be rescheduled. MORRISSEY is currently undergoing treatment for a bleeding ulcer and Barrett's esophagus. These shows are in the process of being rescheduled immediately and all patrons are encouraged to hold on to their tickets as the new dates will be announced within the coming days. MORRISSEY thanks everyone concerned for their well wishes during this time and hopes for a speedy recovery. The tour will resume as scheduled in El Paso at Tricky Falls on Feb 12."

Watch an educational video on Barrett's Esophagus below...

Continue reading "Morrissey cancels more dates, has Barrett's Esophagus"

Morrissey at The Capitol Theatre (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

They suspected a bladder infection, but:

Following hospital treatment, Morrissey has been diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and the upcoming engagements in Asheville, NC, Nashville, TN, Atlanta, GA, Lawrence, KS, Clear Lake, IA and Lincoln, NE will need to be rescheduled. Morrissey is expected to make a full recovery and thanks everyone concerned for their support during this time. The tour will resume in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 9. Patrons are encouraged to hold on to their tickets as all rescheduled dates will be announced within the coming days.

Morrissey apologizes greatly for any and all inconvenience and looks forward to continuing his US tour.

by Bill Pearis

Morrissey at The Capitol Theatre last week (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

On Thursday, Morrissey canceled a few dates on his current tour (including Chicago which would've happened tonight, 1/26) due to "band illness" but now we know it was Moz himself. Billboard reports the singer, who just played four shows in the NYC-area, is currently at William Beaumont hospital in Michigan due to a suspected bladder infection. Ouch!

No dates past tonight's Chicago show have been postponed yet and no word on whether he is still ill. (Couldn't resist.) Drink lots of cranberry juice and feel better, Steven!

Morrissey's tour schedule below...

Continue reading "Morrissey hospitalized for suspected bladder infection, postpones dates"

As many of my fans know, I've been suffering from angioedema. It can attack at random & is extremely frightening and dangerous when it hits my throat, windpipe, or tongue, and I've been hospitalized for it eight times since the first attack, 2 DAYS AFTER MY RECORD RELEASE.

Since then, I worked very very hard with all the best allergists, cardiologists, neurologists, accupuncurists, homeopathists & renowned healers that I could find, Body Talk, Reiki, Yoga, etc. so that I COULD DO THIS AMERICAN TOUR.

I did my best & I want to do MORE & BETTER.

The American tour has been wonderful and amazing, and with me being unable to AFFORD to bring my show with full production, (which i helped create) to Europe, financially, really dumped a huge additional amount of stress on me as i was and still am fighting trying to get tour support.

I have to postpone my European tour until early next year, so I can return home and re-engage myself back into my health regimen.

I fucking love my fans.

Everything I do regarding my career, I FIRST, think of my fans and this world we all share.

But right now, I HAVE TO think of myself because I have to learn trough meditation & being clear from alcohol & cigarettes & red meat and lots of rest amongst my menagerie of doctors.... I have to think of MYSELF right now because I have to now LEARN to heal myself.

Through that, I can learn to help others to heal themselves.

I know my fans will understand and I thank them and love them much more than I believe they could ever know.

I am here and do what I do, for them and because of them.

You have kept me alive this long, I refuse to give up on you OR MYSELF.

And that goes to all the journalists who write a true story as well. To you all in the struggle. May light be on your path at every step.

XXx
Love always
Xxxxx
X @mrpharmacist72 @adelineadieu @nicoturner @afasm #catpower #VOTE #OBAMA #FIGHT #THE #POWERS #THAT #BE

Haunted Coliseum (via @thizz31)

As if they didn't take a big enough hit when they found out they lost the Islanders, The Haunted Coliseum, a rave party that went down at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday (10/27) with Sebastian Ingrosso of Swedish House Mafia, DJ Alesso and Otto Knows was cut short due to some pre-Sandy (and unrelated to Sandy) "chaos" caused by drunk teens (between 14 and 18) apparently needing medical assistance less than an hour into the show. Nassau County police Inspector Kenneth Lack said, "We started getting calls for multiple aided cases for highly intoxicated individuals whether it be on alcohol or controlled substances. As soon as it reached a level where it became apparent that something was going desperately wrong, we made the decision to close it down for the good of public safety."

The situation was made worse when when a helicopter pilot decided to land his bird in a grassy area near the coliseum where there were reportedly about 20 people. The 44-year-old pilot was arrested and his helicopter impounded. Needless to say, many of the attendees are unhappy their party was shut down and have been venting their rage on Haunted Coliseum'sFacebook page.

Meanwhile, three people died in Madrid last night (10/31) at a massive Halloween party headlined by Steve Aoki where 20,000 revelers crowded into the Madrid Arena which is meant hold half that. El Pais reports that trouble started when a disturbance in the crowd started a stampede towards the exits and the deaths were caused by  "trauma by crushing, possibly having suffered a fall and being trampled." Police are still investigating.

Steve Aoki, who cancelled his show in Bilbao tonight, has issued a statement. You can read it below...

Continue reading "Long Island 'Haunted Coliseum' rave ends in chaos; three trampled to death at Steve Aoki Halloween party in Madrid"

P.O.S. at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 (more by Tim Griffin)

Rapper P.O.S. (aka Stefon Alexander) was supposed to tour this November and would have hit NYC on November 7 at Irving Plaza, but he was forced to cancel his entire tour due to trouble with his kidneys. He needed an immediate transplant and found some candidates for kidney donation but it, of course, is a very expensive operation and he's asking for your help...

In October of 2012, Stef made a public announcement about his health. His kidneys had been lousy for a long time, he explained. Ever since he was a kid, they had been deteriorating, though no one was sure exactly why. Recently, however, his condition worsened. His doctors told him that it was time for a transplant--and quickly. Stef had to cancel his fall tour and begin dialysis immediately.

The good news: Stef has found several strong candidates for kidney donation. The less-than-totally-good news: this stuff gets pretty damn expensive. Transplants create life-long prescription costs. And, as you'd imagine, rappers don't have robust benefit packages. So, we've started this portal to allow people to donate to Stef's recovery. The funds will be used to help pay medical bills, prescription costs, and to cover living expenses while Stef is off the road, getting better. Any money raised will go directly to him. Many of you reading this have already donated--thank you. It's meant the world to Stef, his family, his crew, and the rest of us rooting for him.

Continue reading "P.O.S. cancelled tour, needs a new kidney (you can help)"

Word from the band:

The band members of Baroness and their crew are recovering from injuries sustained after their tour bus crashed outside of Bath, England early on Wednesday morning.

John Baizley has broken his left arm and left leg. Allen Blickle and Matt Maggioni each suffered fractured vertebrae. All three remain in the hospital as of this writing. Pete Adams has been treated and released from the hospital.

Three of the five crew members who were on the bus have also been treated and released. One member is still undergoing testing. The driver of the bus remains in critical condition.

Please stay tuned for further updates. Thank you for all the support during this extremely difficult time.

Richard Lloyd in 2009 (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

Back on June 12th, this message was posted to the Richard Lloyd Facebook Fan page:

I regret to inform you that the Richard Lloyd and Grand Strand June 2012 Tour has been cancelled. Richard's health has declined over the past week and on June 11 he was admitted to the hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Again I am sorry for the cancellation.

Team Lloyd

Thank you all for your kind get well wishes for Richard. Richard is still in the hospital but is feeling & looking much better. I've relayed all of your messages and he is very touched. Thanks again.

Governors Ball Saturday (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Gothamist reports:

"There are conflicting reports about a partial stage collapse on Randall's Island this afternoon, injuring those who were disassembling it following this weekend's Governors Ball rock festival. EMT Jason Rabinowitz, the director of field operations and special events for First Response Ambulance, confirmed that he is responding to a report of the collapse. "They were taking down the stage, and were about halfway up when the bottom half gave way they fell about 6 to 8 feet," Rabinowitz tells us. "It was four people total. Two of them refused medical treatment, one of them is saying they have back pain and the other has a possible fracture in their arm."

An FDNY spokesman didn't have any information on the collapse, and a spokesman for Governors Ball denies there has been a stage collapse, "or anything close to it." We'll update with more information as it becomes available."

UPDATE from the Governors Ball publicist: "To call it a stage collapse is extreme. At approximately 4 pm, while disassembling the stage, 8 stage hands were carrying a truss by hand, to be loaded off the deck, when a portion of the deck shifted, causing one stagehand to fall. He broke his fall with his wrist and has been transported to the hospital for xrays. As a precautionary measure a second stagehand, complaining of lower back pain was also transported for examination."

Our Governors Ball photos from Saturday are HERE. Sunday is on the way.

"Actor Michael McKean, who starred in the film "This is Spinal Tap" and TV's "Laverne and Shirley," was recovering Tuesday night in a Manhattan hospital after he was struck by a car on the upper West Side, police sources said.

McKean, 64, who played Lenny on the hit television show, was seen bleeding from the head after a car barreled into him at W. 86th St. and Broadway just before 3 p.m., witnesses and the FDNY said.

The actor, who also portrayed Spinal Tap's lead singer and guitarist David St. Hubbins in the cult classic "This is Spinal Tap," was initially taken to St. Luke's Hospital in critical condition, fire officials said.

His status was upgraded to stable condition at the hospital where doctors discovered he had a broken leg, according to his publicist Harriet Sternberg. [Daily News]

This was announced last month, but I'm admittedly not paying close attention to what is up with Sinead, and just realized it when I saw that tonight's Beacon Theater show was cancelled...

"With enormous regret I must announce that I have to cancel all touring for the year as am very unwell due to bi polar disorder," she revealed in an online message.

The Irish singer added, "So very stupidly I ignored his advice to my great detriment, attempting to be stronger than I actually am."

The 45-year-old vocalist played a few shows earlier this year and was supposed to hit the road again this spring behind her new album, "How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?."

In December, O'Connor announced her split from therapist Barry Herridge after 16 days of marriage. They tried to reconcile, but eventually called it quits in January 2012. [CBS]

by BBG

Hanneman on stage with Slayer at Nassau Coliseum (more by Matthew Eisman)

Slayer wrote:

Slayer fans everywhere - it's time to let you know what is going on with our brother Jeff Hanneman.

As you know, Jeff was bitten by a spider more than a year ago, but what you may not have known was that for a couple of days after he went to the ER, things were touch-and-go. There was talk that he might have to have his arm amputated, and we didn't know if he was going to pull through at all. He was in a medically-induced coma for a few days and had several operations to remove the dead and dying tissue from his arm. So, understand, he was in really, really bad shape. It's been about a year since he got out of the hospital, and since then, he had to learn to walk again, he's had several painful skin grafts, he's been in rehab doing exercises to regain the strength in his arm; but best of all, he's been playing guitar. We were all excited when he joined us onstage for the encore a year ago at The Big Four show at Coachella. Since then, we've given him all the time and support he's needed to continue his rehab so he can come back to the band fully recovered and able to deliver the kind of shows we all want him to. While Jeff's been doing some writing and has been coming to rehearsal over the past several weeks, he has decided he needs to take more time to continue his rehab. While we want him back onstage with the band, all of us support his decision. So, we're very grateful that Gary Holt will continue to fill in for Jeff, and will tour with us until Jeff completes his rehab and is ready to return. How long will that be? The best and most honest answer we can give you is 'as long as it takes.' We also wanted you to know that we've been doing some writing and recording for the next Slayer album - we've tracked a few songs, and will finish the album when we're off the road later this year. Gary will join us on tour in Europe and the UK in May and June, and then we'll all see you on this Summer's Mayhem Festival.

Now a three-time Grammy winner, Levon Helm, former drummer of the Band, took the award for best Americana album last night, with his record Ramble at the Ryman.

Unfortunately, Helm was unable to attend the awards show due to an undisclosed "medical procedure" which also forced the postponement of his February 10th show at the Wellmont Theater in NJ. He's also sitting out of the next Midnight Ramble. His site reads: "Levon will be undergoing a medical procedure that will necessitate his absence from the February 25th Ramble. We wish him the best and we know he will have a speedy recovery. We'll continue with the normal Ramble schedule with special guests joining the band." We also wish him the best and a speedy recovery!" The last Ramble happened on 2/4 (they've been on a break since).

Things are looking good though because tickets are already on sale for a makeup NJ show taking place April 6 at The Wellmont Theatre. All tickets purchased for the canceled performance will also be honored at the show in April. Levon's next scheduled show is March 2nd in MA. All dates are listed below.

Opening for Helm at Wellmont, is Deer Tick, who will also be headlining their own NJ show at The Stone Pony on April 20 (tickets).

All Levon Helm, and all Deer Tick tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Grammy-winning Levon Helm recovering from a procedure, schedules new NJ show; Deer Tick too (dates)"

by BBG

Some encouraging news. Chi Cheng of Deftones, who was badly injured and went into a coma after a car crash, is recovering slowly but surely. Check out a new video of Chi Cheng in the hospital, which was posted along with an ongoing campaign to raise money for his family and medical care, below. Best of luck to him.

The band has soldiered on without him, with Deftones vocalist Chino also taking on a new project Crosses in addition to the band. The new Crosses 7" is available via IndieMerch.

Continue reading "Chi Cheng of Deftones shows signs of improvement in coma (video posted)"

Spike of DRI at Emo's (more by Tim Griffin)

Founding member and guitarist Spike Cassidy of hardcore/metal crossover pioneers D.R.I. (DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES) is in the hospital recovering from complications -- including infection -- that arose after he underwent total colectomy surgery (having his entire colon removed) earlier this month. Doctors have pinpointed the infection and he is expected to be released from the hospital within the next few days.

Spike's rehabilitation will likely have some effect on the band's touring schedule in early 2012. -[Blabbermouth]

So far no word on how his recovery will affect upcoming dates including Starland Ballroom on 3/24 and Best Buy on 5/12 (supporting Overkill), but we'll keep you informed. Tickets for both shows are still available.

All current tour dates are below, along with some video.

Continue reading "Spike Cassidy of D.R.I. in hospital recovering from surgery & complications (all 2012 tour dates on for now)"

by BBG

Tony Iommi at Saint Vitus (more by Samantha Marble)

Legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system.

Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan and remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery.

This comes as BLACK SABBATH -- Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums) -- are writing and recording their first album in 33 years in Los Angeles (still set for release this fall) with producer Rick Rubin. They will now go to the U.K. to continue to work with Tony. -[Blabbermouth]

Continue reading "Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath has lymphoma"

Ira @ Maxwell's for Hanukkah 2008 (more by Natasha Ryan)

Ira posted the following to Yo La Tengo's website on Saturday:

Hi everybody, especially those of you with tickets to next week's shows,

We strive to make our Hanukkah shows unpredictable, and in one unfortunate regard we've outdone ourselves this year. I'm going to be a little vague here, but I had a pretty serious health scare earlier this month. I'm well on the way to recovery, but I've not yet been deemed ready to Rock. The good news is . . . well, the good news is I'm on the way to recovery . . . but vis-à-vis next week, the good news is that I've been deemed ready to sit in a chair and play the concerts that mean more to me, Georgia and James than most anything else we do together. Our sets will undoubtedly be tweaked accordingly. In other words, if you were hoping to be in attendance for our annual airing of "Mushroom Cloud of Hiss," I'm afraid that is now zooming up the Unlikely chart with a bullet. But we're confident that it's going to be a great eight days. We're looking forward to seeing you all, and to not answering any questions about what happened to me!

As long as I've got your attention, I'll let you know about one other change this year. We've filled the walls of Maxwell's front room with a bunch of posters and other ephemera from our various closets. Some of it will be for sale (all proceeds to charity) and all of it will hopefully be entertaining.

Hanukkahly yours, Ira

dude (from Xray Eyeballs) in a Jonathan Toubin t-shirt (by carlyrab)

The following message was posted to the IheartJT Facebook page yesterday:

IHeartJT Update from Jonathan's family: The Toubin family is so grateful for the love and support of everyone at this emotional time. Jonathan is still in critical condition and needs your positive thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery. Please keep your love and energy flowing.

I hear that Jonathan will NOT be paralized, he has been updated from critical to serious condition (good thing!), he's having some issues with punctured lungs & other stuff, but he is waaay better than expected and things are looking up!!! please donate to his paypal fund at ihearttoubin@gmail.com and keep praying! It seems to be working...

T-shirts, like the one you saw above, were made and worn by friends and fans at the benefits. Photos are currently being collected for the Facebook page.

Info on how you can help is HERE.

Watch a short documentary about Jonathan below...

Continue reading "Jonathan Toubin updates"

Please keep Jonathan Toubin in your thoughts today....

"..The [Portland] room's occupant, Jonathan Toubin -- a DJ from New York in town for a Thursday night show at a Southeast Portland club -- "was literally stuck under the front of the car."

The cab couldn't be backed out of the room because its back wheels were stuck on what was left of Room 115's front wall or window panel.

Palmiter, standing by the driver's side rear quarter panel, and three maintenance men lifted the cab's back tires up and off the front wall.

Within 10 to 20 seconds, they freed the tires and hotel worker Albert Abad was able to inch the cab in reverse, off Toubin.

Toubin was unclothed and semi-conscious, able to move his hands and legs slightly as paramedics rushed to treat him, police said.

Toubin had been pinned between the cab and the room's back wall, said Lt. Rich Tyler, of Station 1. Firefighters placed the man on a backboard. "As he was carried into an ambulance, he was able to talk, but completely covered in blood," Tyler said. " [Oregon Live]

UPDATE: There will be benefits for Jonathan at both Motor City and Home Sweet Home in NYC Friday night (12/9).

by BBG

Gods & Queens at Public Assembly (more by Jason House)

Philadelphia band Gods & Queens ran into a frightening situation in the Czech Republic. Read their story below. Help out the band if you can by purchasing a copy of their EP via Bandcamp or contributing via paypal to jamiegetz(at)gmail.com.

Continue reading "Gods & Queens flipped their van in Czech Republic, need help"

Curren$y never made it to the San Francisco Rock The Bells stop over the weekend due to an injury sustained at the LA version of the fest one week earlier. Video documentation below...

Continue reading "watch Curren$y break his foot @ Rock The Bells LA (video)"

Sune Rose Wagner at Beekman Beer Garden (more by Amanda Hatfield)

This past week has been a rather dramatic and tumultuous week with Sune ending up in the hospital. First off waiting for the diagnosis which is where you drive yourself crazy with all the fear, anxiety and various obsessive thoughts of terminal diseases. Then there's the aftermath of dealing with the reality of things.

Albeit, we have decided that the shows must go on and that there is always a solution. We have been here before back in 2008 when I was ordered to stay horizontal for 5 months. And this time it's Sune who has to rest and heal. I will go to Europe and spread our Rave gospel. I'm terrified and overwhelmed by the task of playing without Sune, but also encouraged and motivated by the challenge. Needless to say it will be a deconstructed Raveonettes. I will have my two danish knights by my side and we will give you all we've got.

See you out there.
Sharin

The Raveonettes were in NYC to play Beekman Beer Garden on July 31 with Eternal Summers the day before both bands played Maxwell's in NJ.

Best of luck to Sune, Sharin and the rest of the Raveonettes team. European tour dates below...

Continue reading "Sune is laid up after a trip to a NYC hospital, so Sharin is playing the Raveonettes European tour without him"

Clarence Clemons @ Giants Stadium (more by Tim Griffin)

Saxophonist Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band has suffered a stroke, according to various media reports.

Rolling Stone magazine reports that Clemons is "seriously ill after a stroke at his home in Florida."

The Associated Press quotes "a person who with Clemons in the past" as confirming that the musician had the stroke. [USA Today]

A message from Danny Amis

Dear Friends...

I can't thank you enough for your generosity.
Thanks to your help, and the upcoming benefit shows,
I no longer need to stress out over my medical bills. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with Cancer in 2010.
This forced me to stop working and touring.
The type of cancer I've been told I have is called
"Multiple Myeloma", cancer of the bone marrow.
I was caught off guard without insurance, but thankfully was able
to obtain insurance through the Affordable Care Act which
passed congress last year and for which I am eternally grateful.
Without that insurance I wouldn't have been able to get a necessary
procedure to save my life called a Stem Cell Transplant.
I underwent that procedure in May, and it seems to have been successful.
I now face a couple of months of recovery.

Your generosity has helped immensely, it's a very expensive procedure.
Unfortunately, high medical costs are something I'll have to face the rest of my life,
as this disease is incurable. I can only hope to knock it into remission for a while.
I'm going to leave this donation button up for those who still want to help.
Simply be aware that I'm not set up to accept tax-deductible donations.
Again, I can't thank you enough for your help!

Los Straitjackets go on a very long tour of their own without Amis this summer. The tour stops at City Winery on June 23 and 24 with Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones. Tickets are available for both shows. It also hits Maxwell's on August 4 with Bill Kirchen. Tickets are on sale. All LS dates and benefit dates, below...

Continue reading "Danny Amis recovering from cancer procedure, benefit shows planned (and Los Straitjackets is touring too)"

Jenny Conlee @ Beacon Theater in January (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

A Note from Colin and Jenny

About a month ago, we all at Decemberists HQ got hit with some pretty hard news. Jenny Conlee, our since-the-very-beginning accordion and keyboard player and all-around rad person was diagnosed with breast cancer. If you or anyone in your world has been handed a similar diagnosis, you know what a bolt-out-of-the-blue this news can be.

The good news is that Jenny caught it early. And while the prognosis is very, very good for a full recovery, tackling the disease will mean some intensive treatment for our Jenny as well as a lot of important recovery time.

So I'm writing this to say that, weighing our options, and with Jenny's fervent blessings, we've decided to go forward with our scheduled tour dates this spring and summer.

What we know now: Jenny will very likely miss all nine of our concerts in May and June. We're all hoping that her recovery will be such that she'll be able to get back on board as soon as possible.

And now, a note from Jenny:

Hello to Everyone,

I am very sorry to say that I will be missing a few shows coming up as I go through treatment for breast cancer. It has been great to be on tour these past few weeks. The band and crew are like family to me and have been incredibly supportive and understanding. To be making music with everyone and seeing the fans has helped me to feel more positive and keep my mind off of my diagnosis. But, alas, as the tour winds down, it is time for me to get back to reality. I will try to get into surgery as soon as I can after we return from this leg of the tour so I can begin my recovery. There are still a few unknowns out there concerning my cancer, but I am thinking positive and hope to be back on the road soon. Thanks for all of your support! See you soon!

Lots of love,
Jenny

Thanks for everyone's understanding during this crazy time.

Yours,
Colin Meloy
The Decemberists

Continue reading "Decemberists member Jenny Conlee diagnosed w/ breast cancer (but things are looking good, tour goes on)"